Don’t give up on your brown grass yet
Dormant grass turns brown to protect itself from cold temperatures or lack of water, and you can revive it within a week by watering properly.
Your dormant grass can survive three to six weeks without permanent damage, but prolonged drought beyond that timeframe means you'll need to replace some areas.
You can tell if your grass is dormant by pulling on the blades, since dead grass comes out easily while dormant grass resists because it's alive.
Hiring a local lawn care professional provides clear answers when your lawn won't revive, helping identify underlying issues and restore your yard's health with targeted solutions.
Brown, lifeless-looking grass is often the first indicator of dormant vs. dead grass. It can be tough to tell the difference at first glance. Thankfully, there are a few simple ways to tell if your grass is dormant or dead.
With that knowledge, you can determine whether it’s possible to revive your lawn to make it lush and lively again. Here you’ll learn the key differences between dormant grass vs. dead grass and the next steps to take.
Grass goes dormant to protect itself from cold temperatures or due to lack of water. It redirects vital resources to the roots and crown to keep it alive. Instead of lush, green, vertical blades, you see brown blades curling and lying on their sides.
If your grass is dormant due to a lack of water, it can turn green within a week of watering it again. If your grass is dormant due to cold temperatures, it should turn green again in early to mid-spring depending on your climate and the weather.
When grass goes dormant, it looks brown, dry, and lifeless. The blades no longer stand up straight but instead fall to the side, giving it a matted look. Dead grass looks very similar. While dormant grass is alive at its roots and crown and can recover, dead grass is no longer alive and cannot be revived.
Here are four ways to tell if your grass is dormant or dead.
Watering dormant grass can bring it back to life. If your lawn looks brown and it’s peak growing season, lack of water is often the culprit. Water your entire lawn for 20 minutes three times in the next week, and ensure you continue to water your grass the recommended amount (usually 1 to 2 inches per week). If your grass is dormant, it should turn green again within a week of watering it. If it stays brown, the grass could be dead or have another issue like lawn pests or fungal disease.
If your area is experiencing a drought, keep in mind that many grasses can stay in their dormant state for three to six weeks—and sometimes even longer—without permanent harm. Once you can water your lawn again, your grass should come back to life. You may need to replace some of your grass if drought conditions continue for more than six weeks.
In general, most grasses in the United States go dormant from late fall to early spring. Most cool-season grasses go dormant when temperatures consistently fall and stay below 56 degrees Fahrenheit. Warm-season grasses usually go dormant when temperatures consistently stay below 65 degrees Fahrenheit.
If it’s early spring or late fall, your grass will likely go dormant to protect itself from the cold temperatures. You’ll simply need to wait until the temperatures warm up to watch your dormant grass revive itself.
Another way to determine dormant vs. dead grass is to pull on some of the blades. Find an area with brown grass, grab a group of blades with your hand, and pull upward. Dead grass comes out easily, while dormant grass shows resistance because it’s still alive at the crown and roots.
If your entire lawn is uniformly brown, your grass is likely in a dormant state due to cold temperatures or lack of water.
If you have patches of brown grass, you likely have dead grass due to pests, fungi, or another issue. Pay attention to the location of the brown patches. Do certain areas of your lawn miss out on water or sun? Are there common spots where your pets urinate on the grass? Noticing patterns can help you determine if your grass is dormant and needs extra water or sun, or if it’s dead due to lawn thatch, disease, insects, pet urine, or a kiddie pool staying on the lawn too long.
Don’t worry: You can revive dormant grass by ensuring it gets enough water (typically 1 to 2 inches per week) and limiting foot traffic and mowing. It’s important to reduce wear and tear on the grass while it restores itself. Once it grows and looks healthy again, you can mow the grass. While it may be tempting to cut off the brown blade tops of dormant grass, avoid doing this, as it can cause further stress to your lawn.
Continue to pull weeds to ensure your grass is getting as much water and nutrients as possible. Avoid using herbicides and pesticides while your grass is restoring itself.
Unfortunately, dead grass cannot be revived or grow back, unlike dormant grass. If you have dead grass, you can reseed your lawn or replace the grass with sod or plugs. You can also choose to install a lawn alternative, such as a ground cover, ornamental grasses, mulch, or sand.
If you feel your grass has not revived after your best efforts or you’re at a loss, contact a local lawn care service. A pro can assess your yard, identify any issues plaguing your property, and help you get your lush, green lawn back. Plus, they can provide yard-specific tips and tricks to get your lawn back on track and maintain its health long-term.
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